COMMENTARY: '42' omits bedrock faith of Robinson and Rickey

1:17 PM,
Apr. 15, 2013

Written by

Eric Metaxas

A new film about Jackie Robinson, titled "42" - the number he wore during his historic career - tells the triumphant story of how the Civil Rights icon integrated professional baseball by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

But there's a mysterious hole at the center of this otherwise worthy film.

The man who chose Robinson for his role and masterminded the whole affair was Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, played by Harrison Ford. In their initial meeting, the cigar-chomping Rickey makes it clear the first African American in major league baseball will be viciously attacked, verbally ...